Replace ‘Diversity’ with ‘Inclusion’ – Ava Duvernay

During the 5th annual ARRAY luncheon, the New York Times reports that why Ava Duvernay hates the word ‘diversity.’

“I feel as if diversity a medicinal word that has no emotional resonance, and this is a really emotional issue. It’s emotional for artists who are women and people of color to have less value placed on our worldview.” – Ava Duvernay

DuVernay believes that the term should be replaced with words like ‘inclusion,’ or even better, ‘belonging.’

“There’s a belonging problem in Hollywood,” she said. “Who dictates who belongs? The very body who dictates that looks all one way.” – Ava Duvernay

Next month Duvernay will be awarded for her activism at the Revolution Awards along with Hill Harper and MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry on Wednesday, February 10th at the SVA Theatre in New York.

The ceremony is titled Cocktails Cinema and Revolution, and attendees will enjoy a live performance as well as screening of the film 1982. After the screening, attendees will have a chance to speak with the director of the film Tommy Oliver, Hill Harper and image activist Michaela Angela Davis during a Q&A.

About The Author

K. Nicole Mills is the Founder of HBR Media. She transitioned from Wall Street to television and film development, and has worked at NBCUniversal, Universal Pictures, and Showtime Networks. She currently develops digital programming for premium networks. Reach out anytime! info@hbrmedia.org